Big Top houses magic

Tuesday night Rose, Lucas, Noah and I, went to Circus Smirkus. This was Luke's second or third time going and the first time for Noah and me. In fact, this was my first time at a circus. I've always wanted to go so when Rose asked about Tuesday I was thrilled.

Parking the car in the grass the big top took shape. True, the tent wasn't as big as I imagine traveling circuses are, but was still a site to behold. Children of all ages were running about with bags of bubblegum pink cotton candy, buttered popcorn, balloons. Parents and grandparents were being tugged this way and that while their children were proclaiming, "look at this," or, "I want to show you something," or, "can I have this, please?" Whichever way I turned I saw faces that were lit, faces that could have been peering over the birthday candles right before blowing. Eyes sparkled as they darted around taking in the wonder of it all. Everyone was eager for the show. I stood there in the crowd and let the sounds and sites envelop me. (I wonder how many other people find themselves wrapped up in the excitement of an event just by standing in the crowd- probably just about everyone I would guess.)

Sitting down on bleachers took me back to high school football games. Then I was tiny and had no children to speak of, now it's difficult to hold a squirming baby and ignore the pain throbbing away in my lower back. Thankfully they were padded. Despite that and the heat, there wasn't a bad seat in the tent.

The circus started. Children ranging in age from very young (5?, 6?) to young adult (20?) bounced into the tent with animated faces and exaggerated gestures- oh, and the costumes.
I knew that the circus performers had costumes, but not like this. It was themed,"Ever After." A collaboration of many different fairy tale figures danced before our eyes. A wolf, little red, pigs, bears, Cinderella, Hansel, Gretel and the witch to name a few. It boggled my mind how no-one was passing out of heat exhaustion and how they could move so gracefully in those garments.

The growling of the wolf frightened Noah, but the sparkling of little red's cape soothed him. (He didn't take his eyes of her.) A scene with Rapunzel and her prince brought us all to laughter. All the areal acrobatic work, the juggling, the dancing, everything was spectacular.

The kids fought of sleep and turned their dials to cranky by the end, but were wonderful despite. I am so glad that I can share experiences like this with them and that I can share in the magic even for a few hours.

Walking out of the big top we stepped over piles of popcorn strewn about the grass. I found myself looking for Templeton and thinking what a find this would be.